Goodman Cemetery is one of East Texas' oldest known African American community cemeteries, with origins that trace back to the years before the Civil War. Located near the Smith–Gregg county line, the cemetery preserves the legacy of generations of families whose lives spanned slavery, emancipation, Reconstruction, military service, and the continued growth of the surrounding community.

The cemetery is closely tied to Dr. Samuel Adams Goodman (1805–1902), a physician who relocated from South Carolina to East Texas in 1857 and established what became known as the Goodman Plantation. Published accounts from the period state that Dr. Goodman brought several enslaved families with him from South Carolina, including the parents of Peyton Tolbert, one of the area's most well-known formerly enslaved residents. These same accounts indicate that a cemetery had been established on the plantation before the Civil War as a burial ground for enslaved individuals. Following emancipation in 1865, the cemetery continued to serve the newly freed families and their descendants, gradually evolving into the community cemetery that exists today.

Peyton Tolbert, who was born into slavery on the Goodman Plantation and later became one of the oldest living formerly enslaved residents of East Texas, spent much of his life farming a portion of the adjoining Wade Farm. Following his death, Tolbert was laid to rest in Goodman Cemetery, further strengthening the cemetery's connection to the area's earliest African American families and their enduring history.

Among the earliest surviving marked burials are Kay Goodman (1872) and Winnie Dawkins (1873), although historical evidence strongly suggests the cemetery was already in use years before those dates. Like many nineteenth-century cemeteries, the earliest graves were likely marked with wooden crosses, fieldstones, or other temporary markers that have not survived the passage of time.

Over the past century and a half, Goodman Cemetery has grown beyond its plantation origins to become the final resting place of generations of local families representing multiple churches and congregations throughout the surrounding area. The cemetery remains active today, with burials continuing into 2025, reflecting its continued importance to descendants and the families it has served for more than 160 years.

Today, Goodman Cemetery is cared for by descendants of Peyton Tolbert and other dedicated members of the surrounding community who continue a tradition of stewardship that has endured for generations. Their commitment honors the memory of those buried within its sacred grounds while preserving an irreplaceable piece of East Texas history.

Goodman Cemetery stands as more than a burial ground—it is a place of remembrance, resilience, faith, and hope. It bears witness to the lives of those who endured slavery, embraced freedom, built thriving families and communities, answered their nation's call to military service, and left an enduring legacy for future generations. As one of East Texas' historic African American cemeteries, Goodman Cemetery remains a powerful symbol of perseverance and an enduring reminder that every life has a story, every grave deserves dignity, and every generation shares the responsibility of preserving the history entrusted to its care.